On the first day of the conference, US Consul General Meghan Gregonis will speak on the opening panel. She takes the stage to share her innovative insights on the impact of the current macroeconomic situation on the MENA technology and innovation landscape.
Other top global speakers at the conference include Colin McDonagh, who leads the Emerging Business team at Velocity Global; Priya Rajan, Market Lead for India and MENA in Silicon Valley Bank’s International Market Development team, Global Gateway; Andrew Miller, a startup marketing expert at Growth Expertz; Peter Shankman, founder of HARO; Andrew Gazdecki, CEO of Acquire; entrepreneur Chris “Jillionaire” Leacock; and Nora Ali, CEO and co-founder of an upcoming entertainment company and host of Morning Brew.
Speaking on behalf of Dubai Internet City, Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President – Commercial, TECOM Group, said: “Dubai has an entrepreneurial spirit. Our leadership’s vision and commitment to innovation reflect the values of founders, which is why Dubai is the perfect backdrop for the Step Conference. It’s inspiring to see ambitious start-ups, industry experts, investors and more converge at Dubai Internet City over the two days, representing the present and future of the UAE’s disruptive and rapidly growing start-up ecosystem. Once again, this partnership proves to be a tremendous opportunity to showcase our distinguished community to global markets and experts.”
Ray Dargham, CEO of Step: “I’m thrilled that the day has come to launch the 11th edition of Step, bringing the tech industry together to discuss and debate the latest and future trends. We are focusing on six tracks and exploring how they are developing and impacting the future. These include the Start Track, Fintech Track, Future Track, Digital Track, Earth Track and Wellness Track. We are looking forward to exploring retro-futurism and the dynamic between past and future, with the technologies at the conference helping us to pave the way for what is yet to come”.
“We’re delighted to announce that Tap Payments will be a Super Partner, Fintech Village, and Fintech Stage Partner this year at Step 2023,” says Ahmad Alwazzan, Group EVP & MD of Tap Payments UAE. “As the largest tech festival for emerging markets and start-ups in Dubai, Step 2023 is the perfect platform for Tap Payments to showcase our commitment to enabling and mentoring the future of MENA fintech.” Alwazzan concludes.
Astrolabs held its 10th anniversary event at the Step Digital Stage in Dubai Internet City. The event reflected on a decade of ecosystem building in the region, hosting key conversations with the company’s founding partners Muhammed Mekki & Louis Lebbos, and CEO Roland Daher, as well as pioneers including Mudassir Sheikha, Co-founder of Careem, Ambareen Musa, Founder of Souqalmal.com, and Anis Harb, GM Middle East of Deliveroo.
Separately, the inaugural SANDBOX Demo Day event is taking place today. SANDBOX is the landmark startup program from Dtec, designed to help founders grow, scale and fundraise. This event showcases some of the most promising early-stage technology startups in the region. Startups will each have 4 minutes to pitch their innovations to investors and journalists.
Dubai Internet City, one of the leading tech-hubs in the region, is part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts that include Dubai Science Park, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Industrial City.
About Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City, member of TECOM Group PJSC, is the largest technology hub in the MENA region. Home to Fortune 500 companies, SMEs, start-ups and entrepreneurs, Dubai Internet City is the cornerstone of UAE’s economic diversification and digital transformation strategy for 20+ years. Founded in 1999, TECOM Group is an owner, manager and operator of 10 strategic, sector-focused business districts across Dubai and a major contributor to the rapid growth of Dubai’s knowledge and innovation-based economy.
About TECOM Group PJSC
TECOM Group has been developing strategic, sector-focused business districts across the emirate of Dubai since 1999. TECOM Group is well-positioned to continue playing an integral role in cementing Dubai’s status as a global business and talent hub.
The TECOM Group portfolio consists of 10 business districts catering to 6 vital knowledge-based economic sectors, including design, education, manufacturing, media, science, and technology. The Group provides a varied and tailor-made leasing portfolio – which includes offices, co-working spaces, warehouses and land – to over 9,500 customers and more than 105,000 professionals.
TECOM Group offers additional value-added services to deliver a competitive and attractive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive in and to facilitate engagement between the districts’ community members. Government and corporate services are made available through an integrated smart services platform, ’axs’, which enhances ease of doing business and provides community members with a seamless experience.
TECOM Group also provides industry-specialised facilities, including media production studios, laboratories and higher education campuses. in5, its enabling platform for entrepreneurs and start-ups, offers innovation centres supporting tech, media, and design start-ups and SMEs. Its future-focused co-working spaces D/Quarters deliver stimulating work environments for tenants, and the ‘GoFreelance’ package serves freelancers.
About Step
Step is a new media company with a suite of virtual and in-person events, podcasts, and newsletters for the tech savvy cross-generational audience in MENA and emerging markets. Step is most known for hosting the largest tech and startup conference in Dubai and MENA.
Step has a decade of expertise and network building in MENA’s tech and digital ecosystem.
● Hosted more than 200 events and programs in the areas of tech, startups, and digital.
● Step’s landmark conference in Dubai attracts over 8,000 global attendees.
● More than 2,000 startups from MENA and beyond have participated in a Step event or program in the last 10 years.
● Many startups have launched at Step, made connections which led to follow-on meetings to pitch for investment, and graduated from the startup programs to become thought leaders in their space.
● Over 10,000 facilitated connections through Step’s investor meeting and mentorship programs
For more information and media passes please contact us on pr@stepgroup.co
